DVLA opens 29 new offices in 18 months; 62 offices nationwide - CEO

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has established 29 new offices across Ghana over the past 18 months as part of efforts to make its services more accessible to the public.

The Chief Executive Officer of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, said the expansion had increased the Authority’s total number of offices to 62 nationwide, with 17 of the newly established facilities operating under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.

Mr Kotey disclosed this at the opening session of the DVLA’s 2026 mid-year review conference in Sunyani, held on the theme: “Transforming DVLA for a digitally driven and efficient 24-hour service culture”.

He said the strategic placement of the offices was intended not only to bring DVLA services closer to Ghanaians but also to reduce the influence of middlemen in the process of acquiring drivers’ licences.

The Authority has also conducted groundbreaking ceremonies for the construction of permanent office facilities at Bole in the Savannah Region, Bechem in the Ahafo Region and Dormaa-Ahenkro in the Bono Region.

Mr Kotey said work was also underway to expand the DVLA’s Tema office to create additional space in response to the growing number of clients.

He announced plans to open more offices at Asankragua, Dunkwa-On-Offin, Twifo Praso, Tema Community One, Kwashieman and Wenchi.

On the Authority’s financial performance, Mr Kotey said its audited 2025 financial records reflected a significant improvement, with its surplus rising from GH¢5 million to GH¢25 million.

“The achievement is not a destination, but the starting point of a greater Authority,” he stated, adding that his administration was equally focused on developing a motivated workforce.

Chairman of the DVLA Governing Board, George Spencer Quaye, urged management to maintain financial discipline, improve revenue mobilisation and close loopholes that could result in revenue leakages.

He said the Authority needed to keep expenditure under control, enhance operational efficiency and minimise waste to safeguard its long-term financial sustainability.

Mr Quaye said improved revenue mobilisation should provide the DVLA with the resources required to fulfil its regulatory mandate, invest in technology, strengthen vehicle testing and inspection, train staff and improve its operational systems.

“We must also improve customer service while building a stronger institution,” he added, while cautioning that revenue generation should not compromise the Authority’s primary regulatory responsibilities.

He stressed the importance of maintaining road safety standards, saying: “If an unsafe vehicle fails inspection, our responsibility is to uphold the safety standard, because if a person isn't competent to drive, our responsibility isn't to find a way to license that person.”

Mr Quaye further stated that: “Where a reform required financial investment but significantly improved road safety, the Authority should assess it based on its public value rather than its immediate financial returns.”

He said financial sustainability and road safety should not be viewed as competing objectives, explaining that the former should provide the DVLA with the capacity to achieve the latter.